Friday, September 15, 2017

I Crossed A Bridge to Parody vs Original - Stairs

One man faces his bridge

Another man faces his his stairs

I Crossed A Bridge (poem)

I crossed a bridge that wasn’t there
And from their perches voices stare
In emptiness so much to share
If one could speak they wouldn’t dare
-
I sit on stairs not meant to climb
We witness to some long lost crime
And wonder why the church bells chime
To moments safely held in time
-
I unlock doors that never close
I ask them why I get a pose
I thought we’d share a last repose
I dreamt dreams were bright lit suppose
-
I crossed a bridge not made by me
Behind are doors that will not free
Ahead a world of what’s to be
With all the bridges they will see

Through a confused world a man finds his way home in this poem. This seems like simple rhyme. Each line is a metaphor. A hint to what's going on happened at the end of the third stanza. This poem is written in iambic octameter. (Eight beats of weak followed by strong pulses.) In the forth line of the third stanza the iambic pulse is broken.

I did have a pretty amazing life, but there was a big question mark. I went to college to be music teacher. One year before I graduated, I was told there would not be a future for music teachers. I was a pretty good singer and song writer. My partner and I got an audition at Fantasy Records. Days before the audition, my partner fell apart (family problems). My photographer career ended when Arlene became self conscience about the models. And so it was with all the opportunities that came my way. Let's skip ahead a couple of decades. To be a Freemason a man was assigned a personal mentor. He would help the candidate memorize his obligations and make sure he understood the basic framework of Masonry. All that changed in 2005 when Fred Nielsen and I introduced a new system.It was the Masonic Information Night. One night a week were any Mason could learn. It is open to anyone, but the rituals are only shared with Masons. The classes proved more effective in advancing men, sharing information and getting men involved. After leading these classes for four years, it was time to turn these classes over to the structure of Freemasonry. I was outside the building at the time. All I had been through has brought me to this.

Life is a riddle. What does it all mean? Why do things happen as they do? We could get lost in theories. There is one truth. It is there in the mirror. It is us. We are the the answer to all that happened to us. We could go back through our memories to our childhood. We could explore our feelings towards our parents. But we can never fully know them. Then there are those ever changing memories. So it is with all things. All that was; All that happened brought us here. Pretty amazing, when we think about it. And here is where our life's answers lie. (This doesn't mean not to use facts information, leads out there to help us.) For now, here we are, The product of all that happened to us. A reason enough to Enjoy.

Need some more clues: The Tallest Man on Earth "the Dreamer"

Let's cross the bridge to silliness

The Untouchables was a 1987 film directed by Brian De Palma staring Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro; In the film federal agent Eliot Ness sets out to stop Al Capone; because of rampant corruption, he assembles a small, hand-picked team.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Her Smile to Club Seduction

One lady's seduction is her smile

Another lady's seduction is lost to the unknown

Her Smile (sonnet)

Behold oh happy heart her smile yet glows
In dreams once set to wonder at her touch
While wandering mid stars which she would clutch
As she would recreate the scent of rose
-
There never was a smile which dared so much
To share with us another way to dance
Of possibilities behind a chance
But for a moment we can be as such
-
A smile returning flowers now enhance
Each adding unique flavor to her style
A simple show her life was all worthwhile
Forever’s lover will fall in her trance
-
Now as she sleeps what dreams does she beguile
Which calls me off to wander with a smile

A smile so enchanting wanders through a sonnet. At first glaze this looks like a Shakespearean sonnet. On closer examination, it doesn't follow the Shakespearean rhyme scheme. The center rhymes become the outer rhymes of the following stanza.

It is no secret, I'm a sucker for a kiss. Arlene did have a "take me away" smile. There was a time when that smile disappeared. Arlene was working at a computer company. It was a small start-up. The employees were like a family. Arlene liked this job a lot. Something big was discovered at her job. Something that required the "family" to put in extra hours. Whatever it was went on for weeks. The owners brought in food, entertainment and other incentives. At the home front, I could tell the hours were getting to Arlene. It was in her smile.

It was a Thursday. I arrived at Arlene's job unexpected. Little did Arlene know that I contacted the owners and shared my concern about Arlene. With a little confusion, I convinced Arlene to come with me, to the cheers of her coworkers. I took Arlene to her favorite store for some clothes shopping, From there I took her to an early dinner, After dessert, I handed her a note. It was a thank you note from the owners, with a check to cover dinner. From dinner, I took Arlene for a little dancing. I could tell she was tired, so even though she was enjoying the evening, I took her home. After a shower, I gave her a message. Somewhere in there Arlene fell asleep. As I turned off the lights I caught sight of her face. There was that smile which said it all.

Sometimes the doctor doesn't take his own advise. No one has to tell us or remind us about taking a break or a time-out from something that is a chore. What if it's something we like? What if we really like our job? What if we're really into something? Overall, this can be a good thing. But stay alert. Our body has ways of communicating with us. Even the best job can make us tired. Some routines, though they seem pleasant, may have a negative effect on us and/or take a tole on our enjoyment of it. Stay alert. Take breaks. Do or try something different or a different way of doing things. "Variety is the spice of life." Not just a saying, There are meanings, depths in it. Believe it or not, all of this is for us to Enjoy.

Back to the smile: Daryl Hall and John Oates "Sarah Smile"

A smile is one thing. Then there's...

Five interesting fact about smiles:

Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood: Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by forcing yourself to smile.

It boosts your immune system: Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.

Smiles are contagious: It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious, scientists say. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.

Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress.

Women smile more than men: Generally, women smile more than men, but when they participate in similar work or social roles, they smile the same amount. This finding leads scientists to believe that gender roles are quite flexible. Boy babies, though, do smile less than girl babies, who also make more eye contact.

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Monday, September 11, 2017

Your Dreams to Great Day

Some dreams are blessings for all

Some dreams are questionable

Your Dreams (poem)

Turn on your dreams across the waiting sky
The day has dawned to see a rare gift fly
Though hidden voices try to hold you back
A heart beats hope which nothing can deny
-
So many stars so many flowers bloom
Yet only one this time and place assume
Just one more face to lose among the crowd
Or guiding light a scent of hope’s perfume
-
So much of life is seasoning of you
Great things may grow of smallest thing you do
Or simply sit and leave to someone else
The time is ticking on a moment true
-
Those voices with their shouts of some escape
To clouds which no one else has seen before
They breed upon your emptiness and doubt
These tears await to see your darkest night
-
Turn on your dreams and let that stranger go
Let all who touch you bask amid your glow
Let gift of you inspire another’s flow
The world is blessed through dreams which you bestow

Dreams, held back, blossom into reality with this poem. Not only is this poem about dream, its structure imitates realizing dreams. In the first three stanzas the third line doesn't rhyme. This represents a shortcoming. The fourth stanza doesn't rhymes at all. In the final stanza all the lines rhyme.

I have been blessed to have lived a dream. Though I did have one day that was absolutely perfect from beginning to end, my dream was not perfect. My childhood was a nightmare. Thank God I met Mr. Johnny Land, a teacher, who would give me a life most can only dream about. I have been a singer, a song writer, a photographer, a teacher, a speaker, a leader and a volunteer. Awards? Oh yes, I have quite a few. My biggest is from San Francisco, for my work with the public schools, and the Freemasons, for my charity work. Though I was not a world traveler, I have seen much of America and turned California inside out. My life has been so blessed that, religious or not, I had to give back. I consider myself. economically, lower middle class. Chevron, the Masons, friendships, associates financed my dreams. Now I find myself on the other side of life's riddle. My life was so full, it is hard getting old. I did so much. I miss it all. I miss Arlene. But then comes the dream in the form of Amor, my new wife. How can I be sad with Amor around? My life now is so drastically different from what it was, my doctors have suggested I take antidepressants. I told the doctors, I don't need medication, I have Amor.

Dreams; I put it out there that they are not just a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. They can and do come into the real world. Ever gone to a stage production lately? The things going on, right before our eyes. Ever use a cell phone? 50 years ago they were science fiction. Someone had a dream. And us? Do we have a dream? In today's world it is even easier to realize our dreams. The first step is knowing, accepting that we can. The next step is knowing ourselves and what is important to us. Then all that remains is the doing. (Not talking or thinking about it, but doing.) We may fall a little short if our dream(s) is really big, but there are dreams within dreams. We may not ever be President of the United States, but few have tried and even fewer have run. President? That someone special? That life? The possibilities of dreams are endless, limitless. We are wonderful. The fertile soil of so much more. Live that dream and Enjoy.

Take it away Harriet: Mack David/Al Hoffman/Jerry Livingston

"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"

Then there is the illusion

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. Although health care providers can use it for valid medical purposes, such as local anesthesia for some surgeries. Cocaine increases levels of the natural chemical messenger dopamine in brain circuits controlling pleasure and movement.

What is the point to knowing about this illegal drug? Take it away Lonely Island. "Great Day"